FILE PHOTO - The Sparks Lake wildfire, June 30, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/BC Wildfire Service
April 22, 2023 - 11:30 AM
After being impacted twice by raging wildfires in the past few years, neighbours in a rural community near Kamloops are determined not to let it happen again.
Numerous homes and ranches in the Deadman Valley, just west of Savona, were evacuated ahead of the Sparks Lake wildfire in 2021, and before that by the Elephant Hill wildfire in 2017.
“We’re all on alert at all times now, it’s become part of life,” Suzanna Fradette said. “We’re all constantly patrolling our areas, especially before and after a storm. You wouldn’t believe how fast everyone responds out here now.”
Fradette had to evacuate her entire ranch, including her children and 200 animals, during both wildfires. She said the traumatic events have strengthened the community and prompted the creation of communication systems.
Residents now report wildfire activity on a private social media group called Keeper of Deadman Valley and have a phone messaging system where neighbours know who to contact to send alerts with text messages to keep one another safe.
“We network and if there’s a lightning storm we’re watching maps,” Fradette said. “If there’s a hot spot we’ll discuss it and figure out who’ll go check it out.”
During the Sparks Lake wildfire, she said a wildfire map showed a hotspot close to her ranch and the community response was “immediate.”
“Holy, within an hour there was a dozen people up there with water trucks and backhoe ready to go if needed,” she said.
Around that time a car fire prompted the same swift action.
“A car fire started by Thompson River Estates and the community put it out before BC Wildfire showed up.”
READ MORE: Evacuation order issued for Skeetchestn Indian Band due to Sparks Lake wildfire
The community is part of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and next door to the Skeetchestn Indian Reserve. She said the band has been a major help during and after the wildfires.
“The Skeetchestn community has fire watchers that drive around watching where the fires were and reporting what they see,” Fradette said. “The reserve community is incredible and works to make people safe and there are members we can report to.”
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Fradette said the model is working well for them and could serve other communities as well.
“I think all small and rural communities need to get together and start doing what we do up here in (Deadman Valley),” she said. “We stay vigilante. After what happened with the Sparks Lake fire we are way more cautious around here. It’s sad to say, but this is our new normal.”
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